Kenneth Reaveley v Information Commissioner

Kenneth Reaveley v Information Commissioner

The Appellant's request was manifestly unreasonable due to the disproportionate burden on the Council, lack of practical value, and the request's role in a campaign to revisit settled matters. The public interest in maintaining the exception outweighed the interest in disclosure. The Council was entitled to refuse...

Source-derived case information.

Parties
Appellant: Kenneth Reaveley; Respondent: Information Commissioner
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
02 March 2025
Procedural Posture
Information Rights Appeal / Final Judgment on Appeal
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Environmental Information Regulations, Manifestly Unreasonable Requests, Freedom of Information, Vexatious Requests, Public Interest Test
Environmental Law Information Law Environmental Information Regulations Manifestly Unreasonable Requests Freedom of Information Vexatious Requests Public Interest Test

Source-derived case record

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Parties

Kenneth Reaveley

Appellant

Information Commissioner

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Information Rights Appeal / Final Judgment on Appeal

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Council was entitled to refuse the Appellant's request for information under Regulation 12(4)(b) of the Environmental Information Regulations as manifestly unreasonable
  2. 2 Whether the Information Commissioner's Decision Notice was in accordance with the law

Ratio Decidendi

The Appellant's request was manifestly unreasonable due to the disproportionate burden on the Council, lack of practical value, and the request's role in a campaign to revisit settled matters. The public interest in maintaining the exception outweighed the interest in disclosure. The Council was entitled to refuse the request under Regulation 12(4)(b) of the Environmental Information Regulations.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The appeal is dismissed.
  • The Council is entitled to refuse to provide the information requested by the Appellant on 24 May 2022 on the basis that the request is manifestly unreasonable pursuant to Regulation 12(4)(b) of the Environmental Information Regulations.